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Friday, March 18, 2011

Using PR and Social Media

By Vonnie Faroqui
Obtaining coverage in media publications (TV, radio, podcasts, online video, newspapers, magazines, online news sites, blogs, etc.) is every author's goal for spread the word about their book. PR coverage is free, third-party validation, which often results in more credibility for you and your book. So how does one secure coverage in these publications and media, and how can social media help?

If you have been reluctant to launch yourself into the Tweet-o-sphere, here is another reason to get yourself out there.

Social media is not just a way for you to spread the word about your activities or book release. It is a way to connect with what the social media gurus call "influencers."

An influencer: is someone who is connected with and able to influence the public through the media, such as a journalist, reporter or blogger.

Many journalists, reporters, and bloggers make themselves available on Twitter. Oh, it's true, I promise, and using Twitter is a great way to introduce yourself to them.

First you have to find them and one way to do this is to look for influential blogs (use blog search engines like Technorati), subscribe to them, and start following their authors on Twitter. Another way is to start following journalists who target our industry. Then start tweeting with them, but don't oversell yourself or your book. Get to know their work and site themes first and make sure that you have something to offer them before making your approach. Develop relationships by tweeting about an article of theirs that you enjoyed or by asking a question. (You can also use the comment section on a blog in much the same way.)

The web and social media give access to a whole slew of influencers with which you can easily interact and develop relationships. Building relationships and networking through social media connects you with these influencers who have the ability to place stories about you and your book in front of the reading public.Vonnie Faroqui is WITS’s marketing assistant in charge of helping authors with online book promotion such as arranging virtual book tours and writing book reviews, author bios, media kits, and sell sheets. She also provides project management for online book publicity campaigns and virtual blog tours. As the WITS Podcastcoordinator, Vonnie schedules guests interviews for our writing show, creates promotional pieces to feature authors on our blog, writes articles and media releases, and serves as one of our podcast hosts.

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Writers in the Sky Podcast is a weekly talk show about writing, publishing, and book marketing. Interviews with authors, publishers, and book industry experts. The latest news about books, publishing methods, and marketing techniques.

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If you have had a strange spiritual experience, you will find comfort and information to help make sense of it in this eye-opening book, written by a walk-in to help others understand the soul exchange process and how to integrate higher vibrations that clear energy imprints that are not aligned with love, light, and joy. Learn how to stay centered and actively involved in your personal ascension process as you discover your mission, purpose, and role on Earth.

This book provides the comfort and answers you are looking for to help you process the stages of death and the natural dying process. Topics include insight on hospice and palliative care, signs to look for when death is near, euthanasia and end-of-life decisions, how to deal with the imminent death of a loved one and what to do to help someone peacefully transition to the afterlife. There's even a surprisingly fresh and unexpected look at suicide and the phenomena known as soul exchange or walk-ins.

This collection of body-mind-spirit stories highlights unique lessons about love, acceptance, self-worth, caring for the body, diversity, facing fears, dealing with change, the death of a pet, using spiritual gifts, and understanding mystical gifts most children exhibit.

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Yvonne Perry has been publishing WITS Newsletter since 2005. She is a freelance writer and editor, award-winning Amazon.com bestselling author, and the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services based in Nashville, Tennessee.

She is a graduate of American Institute of Holistic Theology where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Metaphysics. Yvonne is available as a keynote speaker on a variety of topics related to spirituality and the writing industry.

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Disclosure in Accordance With FTC Guidelines 16 CFR Part 255 (Effective December 1, 2009): The products promoted on this blog are part of an affiliate program in which the owner is participating. Many of the book reviews are part of a paid promotional service offered by Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services.